Edward L. Deci
Encyclopedia
Edward L. Deci is a Professor of Psychology and Gowen Professor in the Social Sciences at the University of Rochester
, and director of its human motivation program. He is well known in psychology for his theories of intrinsic motivation and basic psychological needs. With Richard Ryan, he is the co-founder of self-determination theory
(SDT), an influential contemporary motivational theory. Self-determination theory is a macro theory of human motivation that differentiates between autonomous and controlled forms of motivation; the theory has been applied to predict behavior and inform behavior change in many contexts including: education, health care, work organizations, parenting, and sport (as well as many others).
Dr. Deci is also Director of the Monhegan Museum (in Monhegan, Maine
) where he spends his summers writing about psychology and art (though rarely at the same time).
University of Rochester
The University of Rochester is a private, nonsectarian, research university in Rochester, New York, United States. The university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. The university has six schools and various interdisciplinary programs.The...
, and director of its human motivation program. He is well known in psychology for his theories of intrinsic motivation and basic psychological needs. With Richard Ryan, he is the co-founder of self-determination theory
Self-Determination Theory
Self-determination theory is a macro theory of human motivation and personality, concerning people's inherent growth tendencies and their innate psychological needs. It is concerned with the motivation behind the choices that people make without any external influence and interference...
(SDT), an influential contemporary motivational theory. Self-determination theory is a macro theory of human motivation that differentiates between autonomous and controlled forms of motivation; the theory has been applied to predict behavior and inform behavior change in many contexts including: education, health care, work organizations, parenting, and sport (as well as many others).
Dr. Deci is also Director of the Monhegan Museum (in Monhegan, Maine
Monhegan, Maine
Monhegan is a plantation on an island of the same name in Lincoln County, Maine, United States, about off the coast. The population was 75 at the 2000 census. As a plantation, Monhegan's governmental status falls between township and town...
) where he spends his summers writing about psychology and art (though rarely at the same time).
Selected works
- Deci, E.L. (1975). Intrinsic motivation. New York: Plenum Publishing Co. Japanese Edition, Tokyo: Seishin Shobo, 1980.
- Deci, E.L. (1980). The psychology of self-determination. Lexington, MA: D. C. Heath (Lexington Books). Japanese Edition, Tokyo: Seishin Shobo, 1985.
- Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000). "The 'what' and 'why' of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior." Psychological Inquiry, 11, 227-268.
- Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2000). "Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being." American Psychologist, 55, 68-78. ISBN 0-14-025526-5 ISBN 1-58046-156-5
See also
- Self-determination theorySelf-Determination TheorySelf-determination theory is a macro theory of human motivation and personality, concerning people's inherent growth tendencies and their innate psychological needs. It is concerned with the motivation behind the choices that people make without any external influence and interference...
- Organismic theoryOrganismic theoryOrganismic theories in psychology are a family of holistic psychological theories which tend to stress the organization, unity, and integration of human beings expressed through each individual's inherent growth or developmental tendency...
- MotivationMotivationMotivation is the driving force by which humans achieve their goals. Motivation is said to be intrinsic or extrinsic. The term is generally used for humans but it can also be used to describe the causes for animal behavior as well. This article refers to human motivation...
- Monhegan, MaineMonhegan, MaineMonhegan is a plantation on an island of the same name in Lincoln County, Maine, United States, about off the coast. The population was 75 at the 2000 census. As a plantation, Monhegan's governmental status falls between township and town...
External links
- http://www.psych.rochester.edu/faculty/deci/ --University of Rochester Faculty Page
- http://www.psych.rochester.edu/SDT/faculty/edeci.html --List of Deci's published articles concerning SDT
- http://www.psych.rochester.edu/SDT/ --Self-determination Theory Website
- http://www.monheganmuseum.org/index.htm